Gibson Girl and the Bullwhip

This photograph is so utterly charming and lovely that I have a strong suspicion it is not genuinely vintage. It's too perfect.

According to comments in the vintage photo blog where I picked this up, this photo portrays Edwardian actress Gabrielle Ray, sometimes called "the first supermodel".

One of the high points of her career must've been her showstopping dance routine atMaxim's, in a production of "The Merry Widow". She did a whirling dervish danceon top of a table, held high by 4 men. She performed high kicks, handstands, acrobaticturns and numerous other acrobatics not commonly used by dancers of the day. Shebrought the house down with a thundering ovation.

Regrettably, the lady suffered a nervous breakdown in the 1920's and was hospitalized for the last 50 years of her life. Photos of her on postcards are quite common, even now.